Since 2011, Seneca Landfill has converted landfill gasesinto enough green energy to heat over 27,000 homes in Western Pennsylvania.

Many people think of a landfill as an endpoint. But with Seneca Landfill, it's really just the beginning.

When organic matter is placed in a landfill, it begins to break down over time and generates methane and carbon dioxide gases. Methane and carbon dioxide are greenhouse gases that trap heat in the atmosphere and contribute to global warming. Landfills are therefore required by the EPA to prevent these gases from reaching the atmosphere. Many landfills simply burn off the excess methane and carbon dioxide with a large flare. But Seneca Landfill has chosen to turn the problem into a proactive, environmentally responsible solution.

Trash Collection

Each week, you put out your garbage in cans, bags or carts. Refuse workers pick up your garbage at the curb in packer trucks and haul it either to a transfer station or directly to the recycling or disposal facility. Transfer stations are permitted facilities intended to consolidate smaller loads of waste and recyclables to facilitate bulk transfer to the ultimate recycling or disposal facility. If you're served by a Vogel Holding, Inc. hauling company, your trash is disposed at Seneca Landfill and recyclables are taken to TC Recycling.

Transfer stations help keep the cost of disposal affordable and decrease harms associated with truck traffic. To find out more about waste and recyclable drop-off service for businesses and the public, please contact the appropriate company:

Decomposition and Gas Release

When organic matter ends up in a landfill, it breaks down over time. As it breaks down, it generates gases, including methane. Methane is a greenhouse gas capable of contributing to global warming. This gas needs to be diverted from entering the atmosphere.

Gas Extraction

Traditionally, landfills have used flares to burn off excess methane and CO2. But in burning off the gas, a valuable resource is wasted. Instead, Seneca Landfill captures methane, converts it into a clean form of natural gas, and uses it as renewable energy. As gas is generated in the sealed landfill cell, it is extracted using wells, blower units and a vacuum system.

2,400 cubic feet of landfill gas are extracted every minute.

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Gas Processing Plant - LEGO-V

The landfill gas cannot be used in its raw state. At our on-site methane recovery high-BTU plant, LEGO-V, the gas is converted into a high-quality, usable form of natural gas.

Hydrogen Sulfide (H2S), water, and other contaminants are removed in the pre-treatment stage. Then, the gas goes through the following stages:

Gas Cooling and Compression

Pressure Swing Absorption (PSA) Beds

Carbon Bed Filters

Membrane Treatment Stage (separates CH4/CO2 molecules)

The refined gas is either used on-site at Seneca Landfill or put into the pipeline, where it will meet its final destination.

Final Destination

Natural gas is compressed at fueling stations. It is used by Vogel's CNG-powered fleet, as well as by members of the public with CNG vehicles.

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Pipeline

Refined gas is sent by pipeline to the local utility provider for consumer and commercial use. Natural gas may be heating your home or helping cook your food!

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CHP Power and Heat

In the CHP plant at Seneca Landfill, a Jenbacher engine and generator uses the refined landfill gas as fuel to generate over 300 kilowatts (kW) of electricity for the site. We power 1/3 of our operations from our own renewable energy.